August Burns Red finished their Rescue & Restore 10 year anniversary tour with their annual Christmas Burns Red festival, held in their hometown of Lancaster, PA. Christmas Burns Red is a two day show with different bands and setlists each night! I was able to catch night two of this event and it was definitely an astonishing finale. August Burns Red had support from Kaonashi, Signs of the Swarm, Galactic Empire, Kublai Khan TX, and Between the Buried and Me. Between catchy riffs, brutal growls, mic spinning, and over 3000 people jumping to “White Washed,” it was definitely a night to remember!
Anyway, continue reading below for more photos of August Burns Red and my full review of the show. Be sure to check out August Burns Red’s website for music, videos, news, and tickets for all upcoming tour dates. All images copyright and courtesy of John Krebs.
As soon as August Burns Red took the stage, the audience exploded! Starting things off with “Truth of a Liar,” “Meddler,” and “Invisible Enemy” there wasn’t a single body standing still. The pure chaotic energy coming from Jake Luhrs, August Burns Red’s Front man, was contagious. One of my favorite things about ABR shows is the constant crowd interacting from the band. They really make everyone in attendance feel like they are part of the show.
Even after the first three songs, they continued with all of the major hits from “Back Burner,” “Defender,” and “Empire” to their Christmas songs “Little Drummer Boy,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Frosty the Snowman.” One of my favorite parts of the night was Luhrs coming out, dressed as Santa, and throwing gifts into the audience!
Another major highlight of the night is when ABR welcomed original vocalist, Josh McManness, to perform “Endorphins” off of their first album, Thrill Seeker. The entire crowd erupted with support for McManness as he tore up the song.
If you ever get a chance to see a Christmas Burns Red show, do not even hesitate! It is an amazing show. This show has always been a spectacle to witness and I am eternally grateful to be able to cover it!
Below are more photos of August Burns Red performing at Freedom Hall in Lancaster, PA on 12/9/2023. All images are copyright and courtesy of John Krebs. Enjoy!!!
